NEW YORK, NY.-Arte Primitivo announced its December 12th-14th auction of Tribal and pre-Columbian Art, Classical, Egyptian and Asian Antiquities. There are over 500 lots and the auction is viewable at www.arteprimitivo.com where one can find lot descriptions, multiple images, starting bid/reserves and any updated information. There is a printed catalog for the auction in which the first 284 lots are published. The second session, and balance of the auction, is on-line only. The entire auction, however, is held on-line. Among the highlights is the cover piece; a rare black and white painted Maya vase with Peter G. Wray provenance and publication by Justin Kerr in The Maya Vase Book. Another ex. Peter Wray Maya bowl bears a band of 13 beautifully and intricately painted hieroglyphics. Several other Maya examples are standouts, including: a plumbate vessel depicting the rain god Choc with a turkey protruding from his nose; and a two-part Teotihuacan incensario with central face medallion and appliqué decorations.

There is a lovely selection of fine West Coast Mexican pieces from Colima, Nayarit and Jalisco, including several Chinesco figures from the estate collection of Dr. J.D. Blackburn, San Antonio; a matched pair of tall Nayarit figures, ex. Matilda Graff, Detroit; a Colima seated shaman figure, ex. Jules Berman (Kahlua fame), and several pieces from the Arthur B. Krim collection, NYC, of which a Jalisco sheep-faced variety figure bears prominence.

One of the featured African sculptures is a Fang "Byeri" figure, published in "Cosas del Bosque Fang", Madrid, 1998, and also registered in the Yale-GVR archives. Plus a dozen or so examples of African Art from the collection of the NYC architect, Herb Levine.

Among the modest but fine selection of Antiquities is a lovely Greek red-figure painted bell krater from the 4th century B.C., having sharp, vivid and finely painted detail. There is an Egyptian wooden sarcophagus for a falcon, with bird featured face and royal wig, several fine ushabtis, as well as bronzes and reliefs. There is also a Roman mosaic floor fragment with intricate geometric design.

Of the Asian items a lovely Tang Dynasty horse of finely sculpted detail, from the Janet Soyer collection, is outstanding. Also included are numerous Tibetan items, phurbas, dorjis, bells and relic boxes from the collection of the late photographer Ernst Haas. Haas also collected some later kachina dolls, several of which are also in this offering.

The auction is varied in both choice of offerings as well as a full price range, and all with good provenances. The items are also on view at the gallery, 3 East 65th St. on New York's upper east side. Inquiries may be sent to: info@arteprimitivo.com.